Spacing and locking device for roof arch centers



y 5, 1964 J. H. REIGHART ETAL 3,131,790

SPACING AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR ROOF ARCH CENTERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 2, 1961 y 1964 J. H. REIGHART ETAL 3,131,790

SPACING AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR ROOF ARCH CENTERS Filed Feb. 2, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 amw avzdw ATTORNEYS J. H. REIGHART ETAL 3,131,790

May 5, 1964 SPACING AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR ROOF ARCH CENTERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 2, 1961 INVENIORS Jam Hkegl rfi, EmnwZaE. "Vgw BY JwmesHOpr 'fz WW-2 W ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,131,796 7 SPACING AND LOtJKliNG DEVICE FUR ROOF ARCH CENTERS June H. Reighart, 1991 Lee Road, Cleveland, Ohio; Emmett E. McVey, 136 Forest Hill, Poland, Ohio; and James H. Opre, 484 Mistletoe Ave., Youngstown, Ohio Filed Feb. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 86,687 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-36) The invention relates to collapsible forms for building masonry arches such as furnace roofs and the like, and more particularly to certain improvements upon the arch forms disclosed in Patent No. 2,642,163, dated June 16, 1953.

In rebuilding arch roofs of open hearth or similar furnaces, as disclosed in said patent, a collapsible form is first erected for building the masonry arch thereon. This collapsible form comprises a plurality of similar forms or arch centers formed of steel tubing or rods, each comprising arcuate top and bottom chords and struts connected at opposite ends to the chords.

These individual forms or arch centers are positioned in spaced relation by means of spacers in the form of straight rods with a hook at one end for engaging a strut of one form or arch center and an open U-shape portion at the other end, engaging a strut of an adjacent form or arch center, with means for locking opposite ends of the spacer to struts of two adjacent forms. Planks are placed across the tops of these forms or arch centers and the masonry arch is built up thereon.

More recently the industry has begun to use much heavier bricks for building these furnace roofs and has adopted a method of sideways jacking to tighten the brick courses. With this heavier vertical loadingof the collapsible arch forms due to the use of heavier bricks, and the extremely high horizontal thrust load exerted thereon by the jacking together of the courses of brick, it has been found in actual practice that the individual forms or arch centers are prone to tilt sideways, whereby they do not provide a suitable support for the arch roof being built thereon.

We have discovered that in order to overcome this difiiculty, it is necessary to not only tie the forms of arch centers together in spaced relation, but also to provide a positive bracing against sideways tilting of the individual forms or arch centers, due to the heavier vertical loading and the horizontal thrust load exerted thereon.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide a collapsible form for building masonry arches comprising a plurality of arcuate forms or arch centers having arcuate top and bottom chords with struts therebetween, and spacing and locking members interposed between adjacent forms of arch centers and having spaced :means at each end thereof for engaging a strut of each form at points adjacent the top and bottom chords so as to brace each form or arch center against sideways tilting due to heavier vertical loading and horizontal thrust load exerted thereon;

Another object of the invention is to provide an arch form of the character referred to in which each spacing and locking member has spaced U-shaped portions at one end with means for locking the same to points near the upper and lower ends of a strut of one arch center or form, and spaced hooks at its other end with means for locking the hooks upon a strut of an adjacent arch center or form at points near the upper and lower ends of the strut.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an arch form in which the spacing and locking device is of substantially X-shape with means at each end of the diverging arms of the X for locking at two spaced points on struts of adjacent arch centers or forms. v

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description,

or which may be later referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved spacing and locking device for roof arch centersin the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

, In general terms, the invention may be briefly described as comprising a collapsible form consisting of a plurality of individual arch centers or formsmade of steel tubing or the like. Each arch center comprises an armate top chord conforming to the curvature of the arched roof to be built, a bottom chord of less curvature, and upright struts rigidly attached at opposite ends to the top and bottom chords, as by Welding or the like.

For the purpose of rigidly supporting the individual arch centers in spaced relation, and bracing them against sideways tilting due to heavy vertical loading and/or extremely high horizontal thrust load exerted thereon, novel spacing and locking members are provided.

Each spacing and locking device is formed of flat steel bar or plate material preferably of X-shape. U-shaped portions are formed upon the extremities of the legs at one end of the X for engaging spaced points near opposite ends of a strut of one arch center, and means is provided for locking said U-shaped portions to said strut.

This locking means may-comprise a wedge key inserted through slots in the two legs of each U-shaped portion for wedging engagement with the strut. In order to resist accidental displacement of these wedge keys, each may be inserted in a downwardly inclined position. As an alternative to these wedge keys, each U-shaped portion may be locked to the strut by means of a set screw threaded through a blockinserted through openings in the legs of each Li -shaped portion.

Hooks are formed upon the other ends of the legs of the X-shaped spacing and locking member for engaging spaced points of a strut of an adjacent arch center, and locking means such as above described may be provided for locking said hooks to the strut.

Having thus briefly described the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a top plan 'view of a plurality of individual arch centers connected in spaced relation by the improved spacing and locking devices to which the invention pertains, providing a form for the building of an arched roof;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the collapsible form shown in FIG. 1, showing the manner in which it is used for building an arched furnace roof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged,'detached perspective view of one of the improved spacing and locking devices for connecting the arch centers in spaced relation and bracing them against tilting sideways;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view through two adjacent arch centers showing the same positioned in spaced relation and held against tilting sideways by the improved spacing and locking devices to which the invention pertains;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan sectional view, taken as on the line 5-5, FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of a portion of a strut of an arch center, showing one end of one leg of one of the X-shaped spacing and locking devices locked thereto by an inclined wedge key;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged elevation of a strut showing a modified form of locking means for locking the improved spacing and locking member thereto; and,

FIG. '8 is a horizontal sectional view, taken as on the line 8-8, FIG. 7. l

Referring now'm'ore particularly to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts throughout the several views, the invention is illustrated and described as primarily intended for the building of an arched roof for an open-hearth furnace, although this is merely for the purpose e f-disclosing an application of the invention which may be used for the building of various types of masonry arches.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, portions of the conventional buck stays of an open-hearth furnace are mdicated at 1, with skew-back channels 2 mounted thereon for supporting an arched furnace roof. The furnace side walls are indicated at 3, having I-bearns 4 mounted upon their upper ends.

The collapsible form for building the arched furnace roof is made up of a plurality of individual arch centers or torrns indicated generally at 5, each of which comprises the arcuate top chord 6 conforming to the curva. ture of the arched roof .to be built, a bottom chord 7 which may be of less curvature as shown in FIG. 2, and the upright struts 8 which are rigidly attached as by welding, at their upper and lower ends to the top and bottom chords respectively.

These arch centers or individual forms are preferably of tubular construction and may be shaped as best shown in FIG. 2. Adjacent ends of the top and bottom chords 6 and 7 are welded or otherwise attached to the bearing plates 9, each of which may have an upturned flange 10 at the adjacent end of the top chord 6.

For building the arched roof of the open-hearth furnace, spaced pairs of wedge blocks 11 may be interposed between the I-bearns 4 and the bearing plates 9 of the arch centers. These arch centers are positioned in spaced relation, as best shown in FIG. 1, and are held in this position again-st sideways til-ting by spacing and locking devices as indicated generally at 12.

Each of the spacing and locking devices to which the invention pertains may be formed of steel plate or bar material of generally X-shape, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. A U-shaped portion #13 is tormed upon each arm 14 of the X-shaped device '12 at one end thereof for engagement with spaced points of a strut, preferably the central strut, of one of the arch centers or individual forms 5.

Hooks 15 are formed upon the opposite ends of the arms 14 of the Xshaped device for engagement with spaced points of the central strut of an adjacent arch center 5. Thus, as best shown in FIG. 4, the U-shaped portions 13 upon one end of one X-shaped spacing and locking device engage a strut 8 of one of the arch centers, at points near the upper and lower ends of the strut, while the hooks 15 upon the adjacent end of another X- shaped spacing and locking device 12 engage the same strut 8 at points near the upper and lower ends thereof.

Means is provided for locking the U-shaped portions 13 or hooks 15 of the spacing and locking devices 12 to the struts of the arch centers, near the upper and lower ends of said strut, so as to securely brace and arch centers and prevent them from tilting sideways in either direction.

This locking means is shown in FIGS. 1-6 as comprising relatively wide and narrow slots 16 and 17 respectively in opposite sides of the U-shaped portions 13, and hooks 15, to receive wedge keys 118.

As best shown in FIG. 6, the wide slot 16 is located in the upper portion of one side of each U-shaped portion or hook, while the narrow slot 17 is located in the lower portion of the other side thereof so that the wedge key 1 8 will be inclined downward as it is driven through the slots 16 and 17 into contact with the adjacent side of the strut 8.

This is done for the purpose of preventing the wedge keys from dropping out of the slots accident-ally in the event they may become loosened while in use. In order to prevent loss of the wedge keys when not in use, they may be connected to the respective U-shaped portions or ('1 hooks of the spacing and locking members 12 by chains 19 or other flexible members.

As best shown in FIG. 4, when the X-shaped spacing and locking devices 12 are assembled upon the arch centers 5, with the U-shaped portions 13 at one end of each member 12 locked upon a strut 8 of one arch center near upper and lower ends of the strut, and the hooks 15 upon the other end of the member 12 are locked upon the strut 8 of an adjacent arch center near upper and lower ends of the strut, the arch centers are thus rig-idly held erect in properly spaced position and are braced against tilting sideways due to heavy vertical loading and/or horizontal thrust loading thereof.

Thus, a heavy arched roof of bricks, as indicated at 20 in FIG. 2, may be supported upon planks or the like 21 mounted upon the top chords '6 of the arch centers, and the bricks may be jacked sideways, as may be necessary during the building of the arched roof, without danger of tilting the arch centers.

When the masonry arched roof 20 is completed, the wedge blocks 11 may be removed, permitting removal of the arch centers 5 and the planks 21 which provide the form upon which the arched roof is built.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is shown an alternative means of locking the U- shaped portions and hooks of the X-shaped spacing and locking members 12 to the struts of the arch centers. This locking means comprises -a block or bar 22 adapted to be inserted through suitable apertures 23 in opposite sides of each U-shaped portion or hook.

The block 22 is centrally bored and tapped, as shown at 24, the receive the set screw 25 which is tightened into engagement with the strut 8 so as to lock the U- shaped portion, or books, as the case may be, rigidly to the strut at the desired locations.

In order to prevent loss of the threaded block 22 and set screw 25 carried thereby, when not in use, the same may be connected to the U-shaped portion or hook by a chain 26 or other suitable flexible member.

From the above it will be seen that the improved X- shaped spacing and locking device not only locks the arch centers in spaced position, but that they further brace the same against sideways tilting due to heavy vertical loading of heavier bricks now being used for furnace arch roofs, as well as against extremely high thrust load exerted by the jacking together of the courses of bricks during the building of the arched roof.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary l'nnitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construc tion illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

\ Ve claim:

1. A spacing and locking device for a collapsible arch building form consisting of spaced arch centers each having an arcuate top chord, a bottom chord and struts connected at opposite ends to said chords, said spacing and locking device comprising a detachable one-piece spacer member, spaced hooks at one end of said spacer memher for detachably engaging a strut of one arch center at points near the upper and lower ends thereof, spaced open U-shaped portions at the other end of said spacer member and on the same side thereof for detachably engaging a strut of an adjacent arch center at points near the upper and lower ends thereof, whereby said spacer member may be engaged with and disengaged from said spaced arch centers by longitudinally moving said spacer member in a single plane, there being relatively wide and narrow slots in opposite sides of each hook and in opposite legs of each U-shape portion, and wedge keys located through said slots and against said struts detachably connecting the spacer member to the arch centers and bracing the arch centers against sideways tilting, each relatively narrow slot being located lower than the corresponding relatively wide slot so that the smaller ends of said wedge keys will be inclined downwardly, whereby said spaced arch centers are tied together in spaced relation and braced against sideways tilting due to heavy vertical loading and horizontal thrust load exerted thereon.

2. A spacing and locking device for a collapsible arch building form consisting of spaced arch centers each havan arcuate top chord, a bottom chord and struts connected at opposite ends to said chords, said spacing and locking device comprising a detachable one-piece X- shaped spacer member, open U-shaped portions upon one end of each leg of said X-shaped member for detachably engaging a strut of one arch center at points near the upper and lower ends thereof, hooks upon the other end of the legs or" said X-shaped memher and on the sarne side thereof for detachably engagin a strut of an adjacent X-shaped member at points near the upper and lower ends thereof, whereby said spacer member may be engaged with and disengaged from said spaced arch centers by longitudinally moving said spacer member in a single plane there being relatively Wide and narrow slots in each side of each of said strutengaging means, and wedge keys located through said slots and against said struts detachably connecting said X-shaped member to said arch centers and bracing the arch centers against sideways tilting, each relatively narrow slot being located lower than the corresponding relatively wide slot so that the small ends of the Wedge keys will be inclined downwardly, whereby said spaced arch centers are tied together in spaced relation and braced against sideways tilting due to heavy vertical loading and horizontal thrust load exerted thereon.

3. A spacing and locking device for a collapsible arch building form consisting of spaced arch centers each having an arcuate top chord, a bottom chord and struts connected at opposite ends to said chords, said spacing and locking device comprising a detachable one-piece X-shaped spacer member, spaced hooks upon one end of each leg of said X-shaped member for detachably engaging a strut of one arch center at points near the upper and lower ends thereof, spaced U-shaped portions upon the other end or" each leg of said X-shaped member and on the same side thereof for detachably engaging a strut of an adjacent arch center at points near the upper and lower ends thereof, whereby said spacer member may be engaged with and disengaged from said spaced arch centers by longitudinally moving said spacer member in a single plane there being relatively wide and narrow slots in opposite sides of each hook and in opposite legs of each U-shaped portion, and wedge keys located through said slots and against said struts detachably connecting said X-shaped member to the arch centers and bracing the arch centers against sideways tilting, each relatively narrow slot being located lower than the corresponding relatively wide slot so that the smaller ends of the Wedge keys will be inclined downwardly, whereby said spaced arch centers are tied together in spaced relation and braced against sideways tilting due to heavy vertical loading and horizontal thrust load exerted thereon.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 989,808 Rockwood et al. Apr. 18, 1911 1,460,224 Blair June 26, 1923 1,725,414 Parish Aug. 20, 1929 2,181,885 Goldsmith Dec. 5, 1939 2,642,163 McVey et al. June 16, 1953 2,666,507 Ruark Jan. 19, 1954 

1. A SPACING AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR A COLLAPSIBLE ARCH BUILDING FORM CONSISTING OF SPACED ARCH CENTERS EACH HAVING AN ARCUATE TOP CHORD, A BOTTOM CHORD AND STRUTS CONNECTED AT OPPOSITE ENDS TO SAID CHORDS, SAID SPACING AND LOCKING DEVICE COMPRISING A DETACHABLE ONE-PIECE SPACER MEMBER, SPACED HOOKS AT ONE END OF SAID SPACER MEMBER FOR DETACHABLY ENGAGING A STRUT OF ONE ARCH CENTER AT POINTS NEAR THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS THEREOF, SPACED OPEN U-SHAPED PORTIONS AT THE OTHER END OF SAID SPACER MEMBER AND ON THE SAME SIDE THEREOF FOR DETACHABLY ENGAGING A STRUT OF AN ADJACENT ARCH CENTER AT POINTS NEAR THE UPPER AND LOWER ENDS THEREOF, WHEREBY SAID SPACER MEMBER MAY BE ENGAGED WITH AND DISENGAGED FROM SAID SPACED ARCH CENTERS BY LONGITUDINALLY MOVING SAID SPACER MEMBER IN A SINGLE PLANE, THERE BEING RELATIVELY WIDE AND NARROW SLOTS IN OPPOSITE SIDES OF EACH HOOK AND IN OPPOSITE LEGS OF EACH U-SHAPE PORTION, AND WEDGE KEYS LOCATED THROUGH SAID SLOTS AND AGAINST SAID STRUTS DETACHABLY CONNECTING THE SPACER MEMBER TO THE ARCH CENTERS AND BRACING THE ARCH CENTERS AGAINST SIDEWAYS TILTING, EACH RELATIVELY NARROW SLOT BEING LOCATED LOWER THAN THE CORRESPONDING RELATIVELY WIDE SLOT SO THAT THE SMALLER ENDS OF SAID WEDGE KEYS WILL BE INCLINED DOWNWARDLY, WHEREBY SAID SPACED ARCH CENTERS ARE TIED TOGETHER IN SPACED RELATION AND BRACED AGAINST SIDEWAYS TILTING DUE TO HEAVY VERTICAL LOADING AND HORIZONTAL THRUST LOAD EXERTED THEREON. 